Famous Crab Bombs Classic Recipe
Discover the classic taste of Famous Crab Bombs, a delicious baked appetizer featuring jumbo lump crab meat blended with creamy mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and Old Bay seasoning. These golden-brown crab mounds are brushed with melted butter and baked to perfection, making them an irresistible starter perfect for entertaining or a special treat.
- Author: Cleo
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Crab Mixture
- 1 pound jumbo lump crab meat, fresh or pasteurized
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons crushed buttery crackers
For Baking
- Melted butter for brushing
- Lemon wedges for serving
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and allow it to fully heat for even baking.
- Prepare Crab Meat: Carefully inspect the jumbo lump crab meat and remove any shells, ensuring the delicate crab lumps remain intact for a tender texture.
- Make the Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, beaten egg, Dijon mustard, Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, and finely chopped parsley until the ingredients are well combined and smooth.
- Combine Ingredients: Gently fold the lump crab meat and crushed buttery crackers into the bowl mixture, taking care not to overmix in order to preserve the crab’s natural texture and lumps.
- Form and Arrange: Shape the crab mixture into 4 to 6 even mounds using your hands or a spoon. Place the mounds on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased for easy removal.
- Bake: Brush each crab mound generously with melted butter to add richness and promote a golden crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes until the bombs are heated through and golden brown on top.
- Serve: Remove the crab bombs from the oven and serve immediately with fresh lemon wedges and additional Old Bay seasoning if desired for a zesty finish.
Notes
- Be careful not to overmix the crab mixture to keep the lumps of crab meat intact, preserving texture.
- Using fresh jumbo lump crab meat enhances flavor, but pasteurized crab meat works well too.
- Crushed buttery crackers add a subtle crunch and help bind the mixture together.
- Brushing with melted butter before baking promotes a golden, rich crust on the crab bombs.
- Serve with lemon wedges to brighten and complement the flavors.
- These can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking for convenience.
Keywords: crab bombs, baked crab appetizer, jumbo lump crab recipe, seafood appetizer, Old Bay seasoning crab, easy crab recipe